….as State Receives Nutrient Supplements
From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) yesterday revealed that Ebonyi state has consistently in the past three years maintained increase rates in cases of malnutrition among children under the age of five.
This as contained in National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) of 2024 report indicated 32 percent rise when compared to 20.6 percent in 2015 and to 25 percent in 2018 records respectively.
The UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Chief, Juliet Chiluwe, dropped this hint on Monday in Abakaliki the state capital during the official handover of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to the State Government.
“And UNICEF is calling for immediate action to reverse the trend and these increasing rates underscore the urgency of scaling up evidence-based interventions like SQ-LNS, especially in priority states,” Chiluwe said.
She explained that the SQ-LNS supplement is a high-impact nutrition, produced to prevent stunted growth and micronutrient deficiencies among children aged six to 23 months.
“And it is a critical window within the first 1,000 days for children.
“With proper deployment through primary healthcare platforms and community structures, these supplies will significantly improve child growth, immunity, cognitive development, and overall survival in Ebonyi State,”she added.
The UNICEF official disclosed that the handover was made possible through the Child Nutrition Match-Fund (CNF) Project, a co-financing mechanism that promotes shared responsibility between government, UNICEF, and development partners.
According to her, “the Ebonyi State Government contributed ₦150 million, which was matched by UNICEF, resulting in the procurement and delivery of 2,832 cartons of SQ-LNS for use across the 13 local government areas in Ebonyi.
She therefore commended the state government’s leadership and commitment approach towards nutrition financing, noting that the state’s effort sets an example for other sub-national governments in Nigeria to emulate.
Chiluwe, further charged the government to ensure efficient last-mile distribution of the supplements to the appropriate health facilities and communities, particularly to those in the rural and hard-to-reach areas.
She also emphasized the need for strong accountability systems, continuous community sensitization, and sustained budgetary towards the eradication of mal among children.
Responding the state governor, Francis Nwifuru assured of he’s administration readiness in sustaining efforts to eradicate malnutrition among children in the state.
“Today we have come to flag off these facilities that we are taking charge of. It is a very good one because we all know any child that is malnourished will always have stunted growth.
“And but with this intervention, I bet you, we are going to fight it to zero level,” he assured.
Nwifuru represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Patricia Obila also said that the state would adopt community sensitization and field engagement in addressing the challenges as were during it’s eradication of polio.
“And will advise that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be part of this project to go out and talk to the people about balanced diet”.
